Marathon trip right up Moscato's street

Moscato is tough and progressive and should stay the marathon trip in the opener
2.00 Goodwood

Despite going six starts without a win, Sir Mark Prescott’s gelding gives the impression he is still on the upgrade, coming here after three excellent efforts this season.

He proved he handles cut in the ground for the first time when runner-up on his reappearance at Haydock in May and it was softer again when he finished fourth stepped up to 2m4f at Royal Ascot last month, when the ground might have just found him out late on.

Moscato continued his fine form 11 days later in the red-hot Northumberland Plate on Tapeta at Newcastle, holding on well for fourth after being sandwiched by the second and third approaching the final furlong.

The rain that had been forecast to hit Goodwood appears to have fizzled away, which is probably in his favour as all five wins have come on good or faster ground. He is likely to have those conditions for the first time this season and that will give him every chance of seeing out the trip.

His prominent style of racing should also be suited to the way this race is run, while the yard is in much better form than when he last ran, having sent out seven winners from its last 18 runners (it was only 3-37 for the whole of June).

Qatari Hunter has the winning habit in a race where that doesn’t come easy to many of his rivals 2.35 Goodwood

Admittedly this is a fair step up in class from handicaps for Jim Bolger’s colt, who is the third-lowest rated in the field, but he is clearly improving fast after rattling up a four-timer – only one fewer win than his eight rivals have mustered between them this season.

On each occasion in those four races over 1m1½f/1m2f, the son of Footstepsinthesand has been extremely strong at the finish, suggesting there could be more to come now he steps up to 1m4f for the first time. He also did it the hard way, coming from a fair way off the pace each time.

His sole poor performance came on heavy ground, so conditions won’t be an issue, and I doubt he would have to improve that much to have a big shout in what looks a poor Group 3 (only two of the runners have won at Listed level and one of them, The Major General, was beaten by Qatari Hunter back in a handicap on his last start, albeit conceding weight).